The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-27

a
ing with many losses. Here under severe
fire, when the regiment became temporarily
broken, Lieut.. Colt moved his company by the
flank to the colors, holding and supporting
them till the regiment re- formed The Second
Lieutenant was killed and Lieut.. Colt was
badly wounded in both thighs The day fol-
lowing the battle a Captain arrived from Con-
necticut TO take charge of the company. Every
surviving officer field and line) waited upon
the mastering officer and protested against the
mastering in of the newcomer, who then re-
turned TO Connecticut. Lieut. Colt was carried
to Philadelphia, where for long time his life
was despaired of but by careful nursing and
surgical skill he was enabled again to take CON-
mand of his company. After Antietam, Gov.
Buckingham wrote to Lieut. Colt as follows:
STATE or CosNECTIcUT.
OFFICE OF THE CoNMASDER-IN- CHIEF, ,
HARTFORD, sept %, Is62.
My DEAR SIR: Allow me TO rejoice with you and
your many friends that the severe wounds which
you received in the recent battle at Sharpsburg did
not prove fatal, and to express the hope that you
will soon be restored to health and TO the service Of
the country. learn that the ball passed through
leg into the other and cut out of the other
side. IL is a valuable memorial of the honorable
part which you took in that terrible struggle.
would express my high qualification that you were
mentioned with honorable distinction in the report
Of your Colonel. The 18th regiment Is splendid,
and can be trusted under any circumstances.
Believe me, very truly, your friend,
WIN. A. BUcKISGHAM.
AT the battle Of Gettysburg the conduct of
the 14th Conn. in the battle-line Of the Second
Corps is historic. 1t was this regiment that
captured six stands of colors from the enemy,
and which charged upon the Bliss buildings,
(between the lines of battle,) driving out the
enemy's sharpshooters and burning the build
ings In this action, while endeavoring to stop
a frightened horse from tramping upon his men,
who were lying down, Capt Colt pierced the
n f,,f,, II .-fe
whereby the animals direction was turned, and
he fell in dying condition 4 few yards away.
The Captain was carried OFF in an insensble
condition, coming TO in time TO realize the
effects of bursting shell and its resulting in
jury TO face and body, his face bones being
broken, teeth knocked out, and his left eye
placed in very bad shape. Capt. Colt was made
Major after Gettysburg, and during the Fall
and Winter of 1854 was much in command of
his regiment, which was part of brigade con-
sisting of the 10th and l0Sth n. Y, LIST Del,
18th y. j., 14th Conn, which brigade held the
extreme outpost Of the Army of the Potomac
at place called Stony Mountain, picketing
one side of the Rapidan River while Lees
pickets occupied the opposite side of the stream.
From this point portion of the Second Corps
crossed the river at MOrton's Ford, and were
hOtly engaged Feb. 6, 1864. In this engage
ment Maj. Colt led successful charge and re-
ceived a bullet-wound in the right lower limb
This was flesh-wound simply, and tying q
! handkerchief around his leg he remained with
his men till the action was over and the troops
recrossed the river.
When in May, 1864, the Army of the Poto-
mac received orders TO move into the Wilderness,
Maj Colt, as Brigade Field Officer of the Day,
received sealed orders for the withdrawal of
the arIly's advance picket-line. This line with
light support was left sort of rear-guard till
the army was miles away. 1t was expected to
sacrifice this small body Of men for the safety
Of the grand movement. The picket-line was
withdrawn in the early morning and by q
| forced march overlook the main army crossing
the river miles below, and the piekets (every
man present and accounted for were distributed
| to the regiments of the brigade. For this sue
| cessful movement Maj. Colt was greatly COM
mended.
During the battle of the Wilderness Mai.
Colt received a compound fracture Of the right
forearm, near the wrist-(the ball is still in
the ARM. Arriving at Washington he was
placed in Seminary Hospital. at Georgetown.
Orders had been issued to permit none of the
wounded TO go beyond Washington, and to OBJ
tain medical treatment in the city was almost
impossible Escaping from the hospital he
| reached a hotel in the city, and sent q message
| to his friend, Senator Foster, Of Connecticut,
who promptly responded, waited upon the Sec
rotary of War, and secured from him, in his
II -
the following pass:
Leave Of absence for Is days Is hereby granted to
Maj. Colt, l3th C. ".
EDWIN NJ STANTON Secretary of War.
Eastern Surgeons were almost unanimous in
advising the amputatiOn of the arm, but DIR.
Marcoe, OF New York, finally saved the men,
Der, although only one Of the two bones now
connects
At Deep Bottom Mai. Colt was advancing q
skirmish-line for the Second Corps, and gradu-
| ally forcing back the picket-line of the enemy
| From hills in front the COnfederateS began
| Smelling the Union pickets. Mai. Colt saw that
| by an advance Of few yards the Confederate
| cannon could not DO depressed sufficiently to
| do his men any harm. Giving an order to
"double-quick," the men moved rapidly for
ward. In this movement the Major caught his
foot in a running blackberry vine, aud was
| thrown forward on his face. As he fell a shell
burst where he had second before been stand
| ing, aud on account of the vine he escaped in
jury, with the exception of a slight flesh wound
| Of the left hand.
AT the battle of Ream's Station, on the We'll
don Railroad, where the enemy had made two
unsuccessful charges on portion of our lines
| held by New York troops heavy artillery
armed as Infantry, their third charge was sue
cessful and threw the New York men into dis
| order and rout To check the then forward
movement of the enemy's lines, at the personal
request OF Gems. Hancock and GibbOn Mai
Colt led an infantry charge over field covered
with stumps and bitches, plowed by Confeder-
| ate shot and shell from three different direc-
tions, and in the face Of halstorm of bullets